Duterte officially opens 30th SEA Games
Credit to Author: Catherine S. Valente, TMT| Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:51:18 +0000
BOCAUE, Bulacan: President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday evening officially declared the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games open.
The ceremony kicked off at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, that welcomed more than 5,500 athletes to the Games this year, the fourth time the country hosted the biennial event.
The show started off with Lani Misalucha leading the singing of the national anthem.
Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, Aicelle Santos, Christian Bautista, Iñigo Pascual, and Elmo Magalona, and KZ Tandingan also performed during the kickoff.
The opening ceremony came a day after Duterte apologized for the mishaps that have been plaguing the country’s hosting of the SEA Games.
The organizing committee has been mocked and marred by complaints about transport, accommodation and food as thousands of athletes have flooded into the Philippines for the biggest-ever edition of the multi-sport event.
Admitting that his administration was “not happy” with the issues plaguing the SEA Games, the President assured the public that he would order an investigation into the matter.
“What happened is I’m sorry. But I’m really apologizing for the country but then again I said they should know while they are still here that government is not happy with it and that their President, the President of the country where they are playing has ordered an investigation,” Duterte said in an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines on Friday.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte opens the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Philippine Arena on Saturday, November 30. Watching the ceremony with the President is Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA and JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE
“That at least would assuage a little bit of their sama ng loob (disappointment). Back home, they will be talking about it. So do not treat it as a kind of a matter that should be not a cause for concern. It does. It would cause us because as I said when they go back, they would start to talk about it,” he added.
With 530 sporting events held in six provinces and mega cities, the 2019 SEA Games is expected to be the largest in the biennial event’s history. It will feature 10 new events, including e-sports, skateboarding and kurash.
In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo wished all participating athletes “the best as they compete for honors for themselves and the countries they proudly represent.”
“The Philippines took the challenge of hosting this event not only to showcase the culture and hospitality of the Filipinos but also to contribute in the strengthening of our friendship with our neighbors in the region,” Panelo said.
“May this occasion therefore push the athletes and their support staff to generate into friendly competitive action their trainings and preparations, and realize the true value of sports even as they experience it through cooperation, understanding and solidarity,” he added.
Panelo said the Philippine government was “undaunted by the initial snafus in logistics which were unfortunately aggravated by the proliferation of fake news, as we commence with excitement — and hope for a historic milestone — in hosting the 30th SEA Games.”
“At any rate, we wish to reiterate the country’s apology for whatever inconvenience the athletes went through, as well as this Administration’s commitment to probe whatever irregularities there were, if any, in the preparation of the event,” he said.